Hamlet's Indecisiveness In Shakespeare's Hamlet Research Paper

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Hamlet feelings for Gertrude will be disguised by the ones for Ophelia which aren't real as long as Claudius stayed in the way. His original indecisiveness about revenge ultimately grew and he tried to defy his order after a while. When his mother is killed, then the reason for not killing Claudius disappears and he makes the decision to kill his him and avenge his father. His indecisiveness does cost him his life and that of his mother who was the one reason for his living (Utter 137). The tragic flaw is of Hamlet is evident in his indecisiveness to take revenge for the death of his father. Hamlet brings up several excuses for not taking action yet he come across many opportunities of killing Claudius. Hamlet sets out to take action immediately after hearing first about the crime from the ghost of his father. Hamlet asks while speaking to the ghost, "O all you host of heaven! O. Earth! What else? / and shall I couple hell?" (I.v.25). Then again begin to think that his soul would be damn forever because probably the devil has conjured up the ghost of his father so as to make him irrational by killing Claudius. He thinks that Claudius might be innocent in this case. Through the play, Hamlet schemes to establish the guilt of Claudius. The play is stopped by Claudius when viewing it and he leaves because the situation makes him very uncomfortable. Hamlet sets out again to seek revenge for the death of his father because the play confirms the guilt of Claudius to Him. Claudius is then caught by Hamlet in prayer and this is a rare moment that Claudius is found alone. Hamlet then wants to damn the soul of Claudius by thinking how the sins of Claudius will be forgiven. He then decides to wait for another time to kill Claudius. A plot is set up by Claudius who has realized through all this that Hamlet has knowledge of his crime to have Hamlet murdered by sending him to England. Another plot...

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A poisoned strike wounds Hamlet at the fencing match with the foil. Claudius is made to drink poison by Hamlet who kills him in a dying act. Because Hamlet failed to act in the times when he had ample opportunity, his indecisive flaw eventually destroyed him. And this makes his indecisiveness to be a tragic flaw (Halliday 74).
Conclusion

The indecisiveness of Hamlet is evident through his actions after watching the plays and sees the emotions of the actors. It is also seen when he is indecisive in taking revenge for his father's death. In the play we see many opportunities presented to Hamlet to kill Claudius but instead he does not do so. He is also indecisive in separating his mother from Claudius and this can be perceived as a cover for him not to express his desire for his mother of which would have been termed as incest. He ultimately avenges the death of his father but he is labeled as a tragic hero for his own death due to his irresolution. This Hamlet Tragedy skillfully displays how the lack of ability to act can be damaging to the character regardless of how noble the intentions of indecisiveness are.

Works Cited

Burch, R. "I knew Hamlet." Mississippi Review. 29.3 (2001): 43-47

27 April. 2010. < http://www.jstor.org/stable/20132124>

Halliday, F.A Shakespeare Companion 1564 -- 1964. Baltimore: Penguin, 1969

"Hamlet: Themes." The lit Chart Library. 3 Sept. 2008. 27 April. 2010.

Phillip, Edwards. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge UP, 1985.

Thomas, MacCary W. Hamlet: A Guide to the Play. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1998.

Utter, Robet P. "In Defense of Hamlet." College English 12.3 (1950): 138-144

27 April. 2010. < http://www.jstor.org/stable/372527>

Sources Used in Documents:

Works Cited

Burch, R. "I knew Hamlet." Mississippi Review. 29.3 (2001): 43-47

27 April. 2010. < http://www.jstor.org/stable/20132124>

Halliday, F.A Shakespeare Companion 1564 -- 1964. Baltimore: Penguin, 1969

"Hamlet: Themes." The lit Chart Library. 3 Sept. 2008. 27 April. 2010.
<http://www.litcharts.com/lit/hamlet/themes>
27 April. 2010. < http://www.jstor.org/stable/372527>


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